CLEVELAND — The 2025 Guardians have been poster children for inconsistency, but they’ve also fought enough to remain relevant in the MLB playoff chase during the final month of the regular season.
By beginning a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals with two consecutive wins, the Guardians clinched a season-series victory and thereby secured a playoff tiebreaker versus K.C.
Entering Sept. 10, the Guardians were 2½ games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third and final American League wild-card playoff berth.
First pitch between the Guardians (74-70) and Royals (73-72) is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. at Progressive Field. Check back here for updates throughout the game as the Guardians seek their sixth consecutive win.
Here is some pregame information:
Where are Cleveland Guardians in the AL wild card standings?
The AL wild-card standings entering Sept. 10 (top three teams make the playoffs):
New York Yankees 80-64 (3½ games ahead)Boston Red Sox 81-65 (3½ games ahead)Seattle Mariners 77-68 (final AL wild-card spot)Texas Rangers 76-70 (1½ games behind)Cleveland Guardians 74-70 (2½ games behind)Kansas City Royals 73-72 (four games behind)Tampa Bay Rays 72-72 (4½ games behind)
As for the AL Central Division standings, the Guardians went into Sept. 10 positioned second and trailing the first-place Detroit Tigers (83-62) by 8½ games. In other words, Cleveland’s only realistic path to the playoffs is to seize a wild card, and it has been the case for a while.
Guardians playoff chances
According to FanGraphs’ projections, the Guardians entered Sept. 10 with a 10.1% chance to make the playoffs.
Guardians game today | Pitching matchup vs Kansas City Royals
Guardians left-handed pitcher Logan Allen is set to start opposite Royals right-hander Jonathan Bowlan.
Allen has started 26 Guardians games this season, earning a record of 7-11 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. He has struck out 109 batters and walked 59 in 139⅓ innings.
Bowlan will make his first start and 27th appearance this season. He has a record of 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, striking out 35 and walking 15 in 35⅓ innings.
To be clear, the Guardians expect to encounter a bullpen game from the Royals.
Cleveland Guardians players | Today’s lineup vs KC RoyalsSteven Kwan, LFGeorge Valera, DHJose Ramirez, 3BKyle Manzardo, 1BAngel Martinez, CFDaniel Schneemann, 2BC.J. Kayfus, RFBrayan Rocchio, SSBo Naylor, C
Note: Valera has played five games with the Guardians, but this will be his first in Cleveland.
Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias remained out of the lineup for the second consecutive day.
Arias was hit by a pitch on his right wrist Aug. 29. Then he aggravated the same wrist while sliding into home plate Sept. 8.
The good news for the Guardians is Arias received encouraging test results on the injured wrist.
“After testing and consulting with Dr. Graham and our medical staff and Gabby, he’s going to be playing through some pain,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s kind of to his tolerance, so kind of how he was before. [The testing] really didn’t show anything that he can’t play through. So it’s going to be up to Gabby, which is great. We want to have Gabby in the lineup as often as possible.”
Cleveland Guardians schedule
After the Guardians wrap up their four-game series with the Royals on Sept. 11, they are scheduled to host the Chicago White Sox for three games Sept. 12-14.
The Guardians are set to hit the road for three games against the Tigers Sept. 16-18 and four games versus the Minnesota Twins Sept. 19-21 with a doubleheader Sept. 20.
The Guardians are slated to end their regular season at home with three games against the Tigers Sept. 23-25 and three games versus the Rangers Sept. 26-28.
Where can I watch the Cleveland Guardians game today?
The game on Sept. 10 can be viewed on AT&T U-verse (Channel 1736), COX (Channel 80), DIRECTV Satellite and Streaming (Channel 662), FuboTV and Spectrum (Channel 1306). It can be streamed via MLB’s direct-to-consumer streaming subscription (CLEGuardians.TV). It’ll be available on the radio via WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7 and WARF 1350.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.